How could a raya enter the Ottoman ruling class?

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In the Ottoman Empire, social mobility allowed members of the subject class, known as rayas (reʿâyâ), to enter the ruling class by acquiring three essential attributes:1

  • Loyalty: A profession of loyalty to the sultan and his state.1
  • Religion: Acceptance and practice of Islam.1
  • The Ottoman Way: Knowledge and practice of the complex system of customs, behavior, and language known as the Ottoman Way.1

Once these attributes were attained, individuals were considered the sultan’s slaves, a status that granted them entry into the ruling class while requiring absolute obedience and the devotion of their lives and property to the sultan's service.12

This transition could occur through various means, such as the devşirme system, which recruited Christian youths from the Balkans for training and conversion to Islam to serve in the government and military. Additionally, some individuals voluntarily converted to Islam to secure full status within the empire. Regardless of their origin, once they entered the ruling class, they were expected to fulfill functions related to defending the empire and preserving the Islamic nature of the state.231